Merengue singer Fernando Villalona and thousands others marched south down the Av. Jiménez de Moya from Av. José Contreras to the National Congress to call for funding for families with children with autism. Villalona has raised a child with autism.
The families call attention to the lack of vocational schools, costing of treatments, inclusion in health plans and creation of recreational spaces for people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The plight is greatest in low-income families. The families say the government only receives these children in the CAID care institutions until these are 12 years old, leaving families on their own afterwards. The families call for the government to make effective the full application of Persons with Special Needs Law 05-13.
Damas de Negro non-government organization, the Ombudsman Pablo Ulloa, and representatives of 15 other non-profit organizations advocated for the cause in the march.
The president of the Ladies in Black Foundation (Damas de Negro), Miosotis Arias, said the organization is calling for fair public policies for children with different conditions, and the full application of Persons with Special Needs Law 05-13, in addition to demanding other rights for people with autism.
“We have the same rights and duties as others. We are requesting that legislators put themselves in our shoes,” said Arias.
Parents of children with special conditions said they are living in very difficult situations in terms of expenses and care, since everyone has been left to “make do” as best as they can.
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Listin Diario
Hoy
27 June 2022